“Seeded contestants really do get preferential treatment!”
With a sigh, Lin Xiao tore open the bamboo lot in his hand. Seeing that he had drawn the tenth group, he turned and flew towards the platform marked “Number Ten”, landing on the ground beside it.
The entire island spanned dozens of li in circumference. Even divided into thirty-three battle platforms, each was sufficiently large, roughly ten li across.
Between platforms, there were gaps of several hundred zhang.
“Mu Haoran is in the tenth group. I hope I draw the same group as Mu Haoran!”
The spirit controllers grew expectant. They would basically never choose to challenge a seeded contestant in this round.
However, when it was the seeded contestant’s turn, one person would definitely be selected.
Though the chance of being chosen was not high, someone would inevitably be picked. If selected, they could only concede the match, and their points would rank lower.
Therefore, they all hoped to be grouped with Mu Haoran.
That way, there would be no seeded contestant dominating the group.
They could even directly select Mu Haoran and secure an early win.
After all, this was the reputed number one genius among the youth of the nine states. Everyone wanted to trample him and gain fame in one battle.
This was the thought of many.
“Now, the remaining spirit controllers draw lots!” At this point, over nine hundred more bamboo lots flew out, passing the Spirit Illuminating Mirror before entering the field.
The over nine hundred spirit controllers guided the lots to themselves and tore them open.
“First group, what a pity!”
“I’m in the fifth group. Didn’t draw Mu Haoran’s group.”
“The thirty-third group at the end. So lucky, yet still didn’t draw Mu Haoran?”
…
Many expressed regret.
“I drew the tenth group, Mu Haoran’s group!”
“I drew Mu Haoran’s group too!”
“Me too, me too, hahaha!”
…
A group grew excited. Fully twenty-nine people flew to the area beside the number ten platform, all looking at Lin Xiao with thrill.
Facing the wolf-like gazes around him, Lin Xiao felt a surge of emotion. Was being grouped with him really that exciting?
Of course, what intrigued him was that in this group, there was actually a woman from Spirit Phoenix Valley, Ximen Jing.
This woman had previously stood with Shangguan Tong and Murong Jin, so she was definitely from Spirit Phoenix Valley.
“What a shame. Shangguan Tong isn’t in this group!”
Lin Xiao felt some regret. His gaze swept the surroundings and spotted Shangguan Tong outside the thirteenth platform not far away.
“Each platform has corresponding defensive formations to prevent power and energy from leaking out. You may attack freely. Now, the ten referees enter the field. Prepare to begin!”
As Ximen Haoyue’s voice fell, ten seventh-grade advanced spirit controller elders flew past the Spirit Illuminating Mirror, then positioned themselves in the air above ten platforms, maintaining distance from every competing spirit controller.
Above the number ten platform, as soon as the white-haired elder arrived, he announced: “Group ten, number one, enter the field!”
“It’s me, it’s me!”
At that moment, a youth of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight grew excited. He displayed his bamboo lot marked “Group Ten Number One” and entered the field eagerly.
“Select any opponent to battle!” the referee declared immediately.
“I choose Mu Haoran!” the youth shouted without hesitation.
“They really see me as prey!” Lin Xiao shook his head speechlessly and stepped onto the platform.
“Entering the field begins the match. Leaving the field means elimination. If you concede, no further attacks are allowed. If you neither concede nor exit the platform, injuries or death are at your own risk!” The referee’s voice rang out clearly from above, signalling the start of the match.
“Hahaha, heaven truly helps me. I never thought my luck would be this good. The number one genius among the youth of the nine states, and I get to select him first!”
The youth laughed excitedly.
He was a representative spirit controller from Min State. Before entering, the Xiao family had already instructed that if anyone encountered Mu Haoran, they should strike as heavily as possible and humiliate him however they could.
Now, this opportunity lay before him. As long as he humiliated Mu Haoran and struck heavily, he would gain the Xiao family’s favour.
Moreover, he craved the feeling of abusing a genius, especially one with such widespread fame.
He himself had never expected such good fortune.
“I really want to see what the number one genius of the nine states looks like kneeling before me. Mu Haoran, kneel!” With the youth’s booming shout, a surge of seventh-grade elementary spiritual power burst forth, enveloping Lin Xiao.
“He’s actually trying to make Mu Haoran kneel?”
“Making the number one genius of the nine states kneel before him. Isn’t this guy afraid of Mu Haoran’s revenge afterwards?”
“He probably has backing. After all, he’s from Min State. It wouldn’t be easy for Mu Haoran to retaliate!”
“This is how the Spirit Controller Grand Competition works. As long as you’re stronger, you can make the opponent do anything. This can only be blamed on Mu Haoran’s bad luck.”
…
The spectators outside erupted in discussion, voices buzzing with excitement.
Making the number one genius of the nine states kneel. This idea was truly unexpected.
However, it also built anticipation in many.
This was what made the Spirit Controller Grand Competition thrilling. It was not just about winning or losing battles.
Spirit controllers could manipulate others invisibly and make them do all sorts of things.
People from Yan State were furious. This spirit controller was bullying too much!
If Mu Haoran knelt, his reputation would be ruined in an instant. His mindset might collapse, and he would become a laughingstock in the future.
This was hard for them to accept.
Cold smiles appeared on the corners of Xiao Zihao and the other Xiao family members’ mouths. As soon as Mu Haoran took the field, they knew such a scene would occur.
“Truly courting death!” The people from Canglong Gate cursed inwardly.
Outside the number ten platform, the group of spirit controllers also buzzed with discussion.
“If Mu Haoran knelt before me too, wouldn’t that feel great?”
“I wouldn’t just make him kneel. I’d make him kowtow a hundred times!”
“A hundred kowtows wouldn’t be satisfying enough. I’d make him crawl under my crotch, hahaha…”
“Keep your voice down. If they hear, he’ll end up doing it all at once.”
“If he finishes, make him do it again, hahaha!”
…
At this moment, even spirit controllers outside other platforms turned their gazes towards Lin Xiao.
“Want me to kneel?”
On the platform, Lin Xiao frowned. His eyes swept over the surrounding crowd. He had no grudges with these people, yet they all wanted him to kneel.
Then he withdrew his gaze and looked at the youth ahead.
Since the opponent wanted him to kneel, he would show it to the opponent and to those beside him.
Powerful spiritual power surged out. Lin Xiao directly shattered the opponent’s spiritual power. Then, his own sixth-grade advanced spiritual power enveloped the youth’s body instead. With a fierce control, “Bang!” The youth’s knees hit the ground, kneeling heavily.
In that instant, the spirit controllers around the number ten platform, along with the vast number of spectators focusing on Lin Xiao, were all stunned.
It was not Mu Haoran who knelt, but the youth who knelt directly. What was going on?
Could it be that Mu Haoran’s spiritual power was also very strong, enough to control that youth spirit controller?
Or was the youth’s spiritual power too weak?
But that seemed unlikely. After all, the youth had advanced to the second round from the first, surviving among over two hundred on one island. Only the elite among elites reached this stage.
Or perhaps the youth had truly been lucky in the first round, avoiding strong opponents or allying with powerful spirit controllers to remain until the end?
The crowd fell silent in bewilderment.
